86. Homeward Bound

86. Homeward Bound

We are exiles from Eden, with a sense that as much as we love this planet, something is not right. Cancers, violence, pain and discord are always on the edge of our life, and they, and death, intrude all too frequently. The milestones are not obvious in terms of our route to heaven. While our body ages and reminds us that the bells of mortality toll, we see people younger than ourselves cross the Jordan and leave us. We know a huge welcome awaits us there and lots of loved ones as well as ancestors we have never met. The master tells us that our treasure is in our home, but we do feel very clinging towards our favorite possessions. When they are taken from us we feel distressed. The ancient Egyptians put treasure in their tombs; we know none of it got to the afterlife. The ancient Greeks put coins on corpses to pay the ferryman the transport fee across the mythical river Styx. Those coins still remain with the skeletons to this day. The tomb of Jesus encourages our faith. No coins or treasure were left there, just a chrysalis of grave clothes, collapsed as no body provided the frame to hold them up. The disciples stared at the grave clothes and believed. The grave clothes were not cut open nor unwrapped and scattered about.

We don’t know what lies around the next corner and do all we can to try to control events. Our anxiety levels rise markedly when circumstances or others thwart our carefully laid plans. But God works through all things and it’s the classroom of pain and turbulence where we grow and walk in faith, not seeing where our feet are to tread, gingerly putting down one foot in front of the next. The allegorical story of Pilgrim’s Progress has much to teach about the journey towards heaven. The climax is crossing the river Jordan, the final challenge for which all others prepare us. We don’t do the crossing alone. In The Valley of TheShadow of Death, The Shepherd guide is at our side. Our body and emotions may be in torment but our spirit is in the final throes of separating from these legacies and moving into unimagined freedom and delight.

It’s a cynical comment that is passed saying of somebody, “She is too heavenly minded to be any earthly good.” Jesus our teacher remained within the realms of the supernatural and everyday.Our calling today in our schools is to do likewise as each day of ministry sees us one day closer to HOME.

References:

“Do not store up for yourselvestreasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves breakinand steal.” Mt 6:19

But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; and stooping down and looking in, he saw the linen cloths alone by themselves, and he went away, wondering about and marvelling at what had happened Lk 24:12

We are assured and know that allthingsworktogetherand are fitting into a planforgoodto andforthose who love God and are called according to His design and purpose. Rm 8:28

Yes, even if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not be afraid of anything, because You are with me. You have a walking stick with which to guide and one with which to help. These comfort me. Ps 23:4-5

After this I saw a vastcrowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. Rev 7:8-10

Libra boys’ choir singing this marvelous song about death, sung to Dvorac’s 9th Symphony

Lead Kindly Light, Libra choir

So long thy power has blest me,
sure it still will lead me on.
O'er more moor and fen,
o'er crag and torrent 'til,
the night is gone.
And with the morn those angel faces smile.
Which I have loved long since and lost awhile.